The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-07-16
Ghe Gttelliqetuar.
wmEELlNo. W. VA, JULY 10. 1887.
Tic southern Industrial Situation.

No doubt there Is general progress In
the South, but there is also very much to
he done before 1t becomes on ideal region
for white immigration from the North.
To begin with, the wages Of common labor
are not enticing by any means. The me-
gro creates the standard Of common labor
wages and inaamuch as he is abundant
aud cheap as a laborer, he virtually leSn.
latcs the price for ali kinds Of hired agri.
cultural work.
No Northern white man could better
his condition by going South as a farm
laborer. lie would meet the poorly paid
negro at every turn, and find hia compeh.
ton too much for him. Then, too, white
lsborers do not want themselves or faml-
liss to be subject to that sort Of competi.
tion,i especially when there are no. com.
pensating advantages in tho shape Of
health, schools or society.
The rent Of land in the South is high,
all things considered, especially cotton
lands, and there oeems little encourage
ment for white farmers to go South In
search OF land to rent. 1t 10 only the man
who can control land Of his own who can
hope to crop successfully in any part Of
tho South. ss'5 Il. s.s
We observe that recently circulars were
aent out from New York to parties in aey'
eral Of the Southern States asking num-
Der Of ques!ions in regard to labor.
Among other question: was this one:
"For what kind Of labor Is there de-
mand in your community" The replies
we are told, 'show an almost universal
demand for farm laborers, not 30 much
because farm laborers seem to be ecarce
as because they are not satisfactory"
I This is the trouble as respects farm
laborers: They are not satisfactory. A
: further trouble is that while the employers
set labor very chesp because it is abundan.
and not satisfactory they would expect to
get white labor at q very small increase
OF cost over what they pay ior this colorcd
Z labor. Tho fact is, tho negroes work and
wages correspond, and certainly be does
not get the better end OF the exchange.
+ AS ruls, he gives decidedly more than
he gets.
The replies to which We hayo referred
show that there ia aconaiderable demand
for white ekilled labor in Tennessae,
Alabama and Georgia, the three most
important industrial States in the South
at this time. We read, however, that
The individual answers do not show sc
much that plenty OF work ct good wages
4 awaits competent, skilled men, although
. number OF correspondents specifically
report O demand for mechanics, Gs they
show that in skilled 40 veil rs unskilled
labor there is more or lesa general dissst-
isfaction with the quality Of the present
supply. Exceedingly significant Ia the
number OF the demands expressed for
cooks and servants. This shows that the
domestic service which. it will be recalled,
was said 10 be 30 excellent in slavery, has
for some reason become unsatisfactory.
Another phase Of the answers to the
questions cent cut is the fact tina. wages
are paid in ali sorts OF wnya, by the week,
the month and the year, and partly in
cash and partly in supplies. There were
l31 CAGES OF the latter ss against 30 Of the
former.
Take all the information received in
answc. to the circulars sent out and it
does not present On attractive picture to
white laborera at tho North. 1t is not
easy to see how they could better thei,
situation in the country districts OF the
South. The day has not como CD yet
when the white farm lsborers Of the
North arc under the necessity Of &C.
cspting such q state Of things IS exista
in the agricultural districts Of the South.
They are not compelled to. MAKO auch a
sacrifice as It would call for. They can
do far better where they are, where they
have vastly more advantages. pecuniaEy,
social and nora!. Ri